A funny thing happened in the Mytek Audio room.
OK two funny things. Mytek’s Michal Jurewicz handed me the iPad remote running Roon and left me alone. If you look closely at the opening image, you might be able to see The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Electric Ladyland with “Rainy Day, Dream Away” playing. This was after I’d already relished in some Lonely Guest, Lucrecia Dalt, Julien Baker, Rolling Stones (“Lady Jane”), and more. I was in hifi heaven. My hifi friend Alan Kafton from audiodharma joined me some time through and we both laughed, smiled, and reveled in the studio quality sound (that’s what Michal was aiming for and Alan felt he got there), all rich resolute and bold (as love).
The eagerly anticipated and late to arrive (and there’s no concrete ship date yet) Mytek Empire Streamer DAC ($24,995) acted as source and server, aka Roon Core and Endpoint, with its twin i7 Core CPUs inside. The matching Empire GanFET-based Monoblock Amplifiers ($9999/ea. delivery date TBA) drove a pair of JM Labs stand mount speakers while their powered subs controlled deep base. Those aren’t tubes up top the Empire amps but they’re meant to look like ’em to possibly evoke tube warmth in the looker/listener.
I’m not so sure that’s why this system sounded alive and unlike any particular overly simplified generalization of tube, solid state, or switching amp sound. It simply sounded like music, sweet music. I was so distracted and delighted I forgot to photograph the speakers (that’s the funny thing). I could have danced all night.
